Windows 7 - What is MSOCache?

Asked By Roman on 03-Jun-07 06:30 PM

There was a hidden folder called "MSOCache". In the folder, there were
tons of cab files. Total size of the MSO Cache was about 300 MB. What is
MSO Cache?
Can I delete it without affecting WinXP Pro? Roman

Shenan Stanley replied on 03-Jun-07 06:43 PM

Search using Google!
http://www.google.com/
(How-to: http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/basics.html )
Example:
A search for 'Windows XP MSOCache' brings up:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Windows+XP+MSOCache
Second hit in the list I got there was:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/766/xp_what_is_the_msocache_folder_and_how_to_remove_it
--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Ramesh, MS-MVP replied on 04-Jun-07 01:09 AM

The MSOCache folder contains the Office Setup files, so that to =
repair/reinstall an Office component, you don't have to insert the =
Office CD-ROM everytime. If the MSOCache folder is deleted, you'll need =
to use the Office CD-ROM to repair or reinstall Office components. In =
addition to the links supplied by Shenan, these may help also:
Prevent accidental deletion of Office Setup Files when using the Disk =
Cleanup utility:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/131/1/
How to recreate the Office 2003 Setup files folder (MSOCache) after =
deleting it accidentally using Disk Cleanup utility:=20
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/167/1/
--=20
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows=AE Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
There was a hidden folder called "MSOCache". In the folder, there were =
tons of cab files. Total size of the MSO Cache was about 300 MB. What =
is=20
MSO Cache?
Can I delete it without affecting WinXP Pro? Roman=20

Jerry replied on 04-Jun-07 04:42 PM

OK - I read the info in the Google links. The problem is I have Office 2000
Pro upgraded to Office XP Pro so why do I have an MSOCACHE folder? I'm not
running Office 2003. And, Disk Cleanup DID NOT remove the folder.
The MSOCache folder contains the Office Setup files, so that to
repair/reinstall an Office component, you don't have to insert the Office
CD-ROM everytime. If the MSOCache folder is deleted, you'll need to use the
Office CD-ROM to repair or reinstall Office components. In addition to the
links supplied by Shenan, these may help also:
Prevent accidental deletion of Office Setup Files when using the Disk
Cleanup utility:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/131/1/
How to recreate the Office 2003 Setup files folder (MSOCache) after deleting
it accidentally using Disk Cleanup utility:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/167/1/
--
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
There was a hidden folder called "MSOCache". In the folder, there were
tons of cab files. Total size of the MSO Cache was about 300 MB. What is
MSO Cache?
Can I delete it without affecting WinXP Pro? Roman

Ramesh, MS-MVP replied on 05-Jun-07 01:20 AM

Well.. It appears for Office XP installation also creates the MSOCache =
folder. It's evident from the following Office article:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/orkXP/HA011362521033.aspx
The automatic repair feature of Office XP is dependent on the =
availability of the MSI cached to the user's computer. If the MSI file =
is deleted, is corrupt, was moved, or is the wrong version for the =
installed edition of Office, Windows Installer fails to update or =
correct any faults with the installation. Various error messages appear =
when this file is not available.=20
Important To avoid problems with the MSI file, do not delete folders =
from a hard drive that have a name similer to MSOCACHE. Most likely, the =
MSI file needed by Office XP and Windows Installer is cached as a hidden =
file within this folder.
Disk Cleanup does NOT remove the folder by default. You need to place a =
checkmark near "Office Setup files" in Disk Cleanup window, in order to =
clear the MSOCache folder.
--=20
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows=AE Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
OK - I read the info in the Google links. The problem is I have Office =
2000=20
Pro upgraded to Office XP Pro so why do I have an MSOCACHE folder? I'm =
not=20
running Office 2003. And, Disk Cleanup DID NOT remove the folder.
The MSOCache folder contains the Office Setup files, so that to=20
repair/reinstall an Office component, you don't have to insert the =
Office=20
CD-ROM everytime. If the MSOCache folder is deleted, you'll need to use =
the=20
Office CD-ROM to repair or reinstall Office components. In addition to =
the=20
links supplied by Shenan, these may help also:
Prevent accidental deletion of Office Setup Files when using the Disk=20
Cleanup utility:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/131/1/
How to recreate the Office 2003 Setup files folder (MSOCache) after =
deleting=20
it accidentally using Disk Cleanup utility:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/167/1/
--=20
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows=AE Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
There was a hidden folder called "MSOCache". In the folder, there were
tons of cab files. Total size of the MSO Cache was about 300 MB. What =
is
MSO Cache?
Can I delete it without affecting WinXP Pro? Roman

darkrats replied on 20-Jul-07 10:50 PM

I have a question about the MSOCache folder. On my computer, I have a single
hard drive, partitioned into C, D. E and F partitions. Why is the MSOCache
folder put on D partition, and is there a way during the Office setup, to
specify where it should be placed?
Well.. It appears for Office XP installation also creates the MSOCache
folder. It's evident from the following Office article:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/orkXP/HA011362521033.aspx
The automatic repair feature of Office XP is dependent on the availability
of the MSI cached to the user's computer. If the MSI file is deleted, is
corrupt, was moved, or is the wrong version for the installed edition of
Office, Windows Installer fails to update or correct any faults with the
installation. Various error messages appear when this file is not available.
Important To avoid problems with the MSI file, do not delete folders from
a hard drive that have a name similer to MSOCACHE. Most likely, the MSI file
needed by Office XP and Windows Installer is cached as a hidden file within
this folder.
Disk Cleanup does NOT remove the folder by default. You need to place a
checkmark near "Office Setup files" in Disk Cleanup window, in order to
clear the MSOCache folder.
--
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
OK - I read the info in the Google links. The problem is I have Office 2000
Pro upgraded to Office XP Pro so why do I have an MSOCACHE folder? I'm not
running Office 2003. And, Disk Cleanup DID NOT remove the folder.
The MSOCache folder contains the Office Setup files, so that to
repair/reinstall an Office component, you don't have to insert the Office
CD-ROM everytime. If the MSOCache folder is deleted, you'll need to use the
Office CD-ROM to repair or reinstall Office components. In addition to the
links supplied by Shenan, these may help also:
Prevent accidental deletion of Office Setup Files when using the Disk
Cleanup utility:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/131/1/
How to recreate the Office 2003 Setup files folder (MSOCache) after deleting
it accidentally using Disk Cleanup utility:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/167/1/
--
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
There was a hidden folder called "MSOCache". In the folder, there were
tons of cab files. Total size of the MSO Cache was about 300 MB. What is
MSO Cache?
Can I delete it without affecting WinXP Pro? Roman

Stan Brown replied on 21-Jul-07 10:11 AM

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:50:09 -0600 from darkrats <darkrats@hotmail.com>:
I don't remember a way to specify that during installation, or even
to specify *whether* it is done. But after installation you can move
the cache and change the appropriate registry key to point to the new
location.
--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com/

Ramesh, MS-MVP replied on 22-Jul-07 02:31 AM

Local Install Source (Msocache):=20
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/825933
Note The MSOCACHE folder is not always located on the disk drive with =
the most free space. If your computer has an NTFS drive with at least =
1.5 GB of free space, the MSOCACHE folder will be located on that NTFS =
drive.
and from that article:
Move LIS Cache folder to a new drive location
A tool has been developed that lets you change the location of your =
Local Install Source cache folder after it has been established by a =
product install. To download the Local Installation Source Tool, visit =
the following Microsoft Web site:=20
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3D10fa7aa3-695b-=
42c3-9045-b812ba0fed3e =
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3D10fa7aa3-695b=
-42c3-9045-b812ba0fed3e)
You can control the Local Install Source Tool settings and location by =
using the Setup.ini file, or from a command line. For more information =
about how to control the Local Install Source Tool settings and =
location, see the Setup.htm file on the Office 2003 installation CD. For =
additional information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:=20
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=3Dkb;en-us;830168 =
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=3Dkb;en-us;830168)
=A9 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.=20
Related links:
Frequently asked questions about the Local Install Source feature in =
Office 2003:=20
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/830168
How to recreate the Office 2003 Setup files folder (MSOCache) after =
deleting it accidentally using Disk Cleanup utility:=20
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/167/1/
Prevent accidental deletion of Office Setup Files when using the Disk =
Cleanup utility:=20
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/131/1/
--=20
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows=AE Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
I have a question about the MSOCache folder. On my computer, I have a =
single=20
hard drive, partitioned into C, D. E and F partitions. Why is the =
MSOCache=20
folder put on D partition, and is there a way during the Office setup, =
to=20
specify where it should be placed?
Well.. It appears for Office XP installation also creates the MSOCache=20
folder. It's evident from the following Office article:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/orkXP/HA011362521033.aspx
The automatic repair feature of Office XP is dependent on the =
availability=20
of the MSI cached to the user's computer. If the MSI file is deleted, is =
corrupt, was moved, or is the wrong version for the installed edition of =
Office, Windows Installer fails to update or correct any faults with the =
installation. Various error messages appear when this file is not =
available.
Important To avoid problems with the MSI file, do not delete folders =
from=20
a hard drive that have a name similer to MSOCACHE. Most likely, the MSI =
file=20
needed by Office XP and Windows Installer is cached as a hidden file =
within=20
this folder.
Disk Cleanup does NOT remove the folder by default. You need to place a=20
checkmark near "Office Setup files" in Disk Cleanup window, in order to=20
clear the MSOCache folder.
--=20
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows=AE Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
OK - I read the info in the Google links. The problem is I have Office =
2000
Pro upgraded to Office XP Pro so why do I have an MSOCACHE folder? I'm =
not
running Office 2003. And, Disk Cleanup DID NOT remove the folder.
The MSOCache folder contains the Office Setup files, so that to
repair/reinstall an Office component, you don't have to insert the =
Office
CD-ROM everytime. If the MSOCache folder is deleted, you'll need to use =
the
Office CD-ROM to repair or reinstall Office components. In addition to =
the
links supplied by Shenan, these may help also:
Prevent accidental deletion of Office Setup Files when using the Disk
Cleanup utility:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/131/1/
How to recreate the Office 2003 Setup files folder (MSOCache) after =
deleting
it accidentally using Disk Cleanup utility:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/167/1/
--=20
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows=AE Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
There was a hidden folder called "MSOCache". In the folder, there were
tons of cab files. Total size of the MSO Cache was about 300 MB. What =
is
MSO Cache?
Can I delete it without affecting WinXP Pro? Roman